CG urges dockside safety exams

NEW ORLEANS - The 8th Coast Guard District is working to increase safety awareness and enforce safety regulations aboard Gulf of Mexico commercial fishing boats. In an effort to reduce onboard injuries, the CG will be conducting safety boardings through early June, and encouraging early participation in the dockside exam and safety decal program that becomes mandatory Oct. 15. All commercial fishing vessels that operate more than three nautical miles offshore will require a safety decal. Gulf of Mexico’s commercial fishing industry is the second most dangerous occupation in the country with more than 75 fatalities per 100,000 workers. (Source: CG 8th District 05/07/15)